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YALA BOMB BLASTS, SONGKHLA HOTEL BLAZE INJURE HUNDREDS

Turmoil descended on the South yesterday when three bomb explosions rocked Yala and a blaze gutted a luxurious hotel in Songkhla, causing at least 14 deaths and hundreds of injuries.


DAY OF DEATH IN THE SOUTH
Thick smoke pours from the ground floor of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel as firefighters struggle to control a blaze that killed five people and injured more than 350 others. Below, right and centre, many guests and workers had to be rescued from the building. Authorities said the fire was caused by an explosion. As of press time, they had yet to find any evidence linking the fire to bombings in the South yesterday.

Nine people were killed and more than 100 others wounded in three bomb attacks in Yala's downtown area, while an explosion that caused a fire at Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel and shopping mall in Songkhla's Hat Yai district killed five and left more than 350 injured.

Authorities confirmed that the bombs in Yala were made by insurgents but could not confirm if the incident in Hat Yai was linked to terrorism.

But Hat Yai mayor Prai Pattano, who had earlier ruled out a terror attack, changed his mind after inspecting the scene, saying he believed it was terrorism.

Chaos struck shortly before 12pm in the business area of Yala's Muang district when two bombs went off on Sai Ruam Mit Road. The explosives, weighing 60-70kg, were stored in two 15kg gas cylinders and put in an Isuzu pickup truck. Recovered from the blast site were parts of damaged gas cylinders and electronic circuits and power cables.

As authorities rushed to the scene, another bomb exploded in front of a convenience store about 20m away. The bomb was planted in a Toyota pickup truck.


GRIM TASK: Forensic officers inspect the wreckage of a car damaged in an explosion near Mae Lan police station in Pattani’s Mae Lan district.

Shophouses, parked cars and motorcycles near the blast sites were set on fire. The two pickup trucks used in the attacks and the suspects were captured on surveillance cameras. The Isuzu truck was suspected to have been used in the recent attack on a security checkpoint in tambon Kalor of Raman district.

In less than one hour, a major fire engulfed Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, which houses a hotel and shopping complex, following an explosion from the basement car park. Four men and one woman were found dead. Three of the bodies were recovered from the basement.

More than 350 people were injured. Most suffered from smoke inhalation and cuts from shattered glasses and windows.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said authorities had been told to urgently investigate and help victims.

Surin Weerasuk, who headed an inspection team from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said initial evidence suggested a possible car bomb.

Songkhla Governor Krisada Boonrat said it was too early to conclude it was an attack. "No bomb device has been found so far. We need to investigate," he said.

A bomb expert said the fire could have been caused by liquid explosives.

Rescue operations were hindered by a lack of proper equipment. Hat Yai municipality sent a fire truck with a hydraulic platform to help douse the blaze but it could only reach the height of a four storey-building.

By late afternoon, the fire was under control.

Phetdao Tohmeena, daughter of former senator Den Tohmeena, said she was in a meeting at the Novotel opposite Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel when she heard a loud explosion,

"I could feel the impact. I saw smoke coming out and people sprinting out in panic. Some looked OK and some were injured," she said.

Songkhla police chief Pol Maj Gen Suwit Choensiri and Fourth Army Commander Lt Gen Udomchai Thamsarot ordered security to be stepped up in shopping malls and hotels in the province.

Yesterday's death toll represents the greatest carnage since August 2008 when two explosions rocked Hat Yai and five others hit downtown Songkhla.

In Pattani province, a small bomb exploded in a food shop, slightly injuring a police officer, police said.

A source close to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre said yesterday that escalated violence was aimed at sending signals that insurgents do not want to negotiate with authorities.

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A total of 11 people, six men and five women, were killed and 127 wounded, 10 of them seriously, in bomb explosions that rocked Yala town on Saturday, Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said on Sunday.

According to Mr Witthaya, eight people were killed at the scenes of three explosions and three died later at the hospital. Nine people were earlier reported killed.

The number of killed was earlier repoAs of 11pm on Saturday night, 127 wounded were taken to Yala Hospital for treatment. Of them, 31 were required to stay over night.

Ten of the wounded were in serious conditions, most of them from burns and bomb shrapnel.

Five of them sufferred more than 50 per cent burns, requiring a breath support system in an intensive care unit.

A volunteer ranger, Suvit Chuaychana, sufferred nearly 100 per cent burns. Preparations were being made to evacuate him by plane to Bangkok.

The other five seriously wounded were out of danger but two still risked turning blind because their eyes were hit by shrapnel.

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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday morning expressed deep regret to families of those killed and wounded in car bombs that hit Yala and Hat Yai district of Songkhla on Saturday.

She said Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, the police chief, left for the South yesterday to inspect the scenes of the bomb blasts and coordinate work with provincial governors.

More police would be deployed at public places to provide security in coordination with military.

The deputy army chief would also travel to the South to work with the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre for investigation and layding down preventive measures.

Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and Social Development and Human Security Minister Santi Prompat would leave for the troubled areas this afternoon to look after families of the killed and wounded.

Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa would this afternoon call a meeting of intelligence agencies.

When asked if the government had obtained information related to the two incidents and whether foreigners were involved, Ms Yingluck said she would rather not make any disclosure that could obstruct work of the authorities.

Democrat Party and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Songkhla MP Sirichoke Sopha, and Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut left for Songkhla this morning to follow up the situation and visit relatives of the bomb victims.

Mr Abhisit said it was now time for the government to review it policy towards insurgency in the South to better cope with the situation which had become more violent.

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The car bomb that rocked Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Songkhla's Hat Yai district on Saturday would likely cause at least 1 billion baht in damage to the tourism sector, Somchart Pimthanapoonporn, a leading hotelier, said on Sunday.

Five people were killed and more than 300 wounded in the blast.

Mr Somchart, chairman of the Songkhla Tourism Business Council and president of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hoteliers Association, said following the blast about 60 per cent of the city's hotel rooms which had been fully booked were cancelled.

He was optimistic it will less than three months to return the tourism climate to normal.

The damage to tourism-related businesses was likely to be around 1 billion baht, he said.

Mr Somchart said despite the incident, the Songkran festivals in Hat Yai will be organised as usual and activities to promote the celebrations will continue to restore tourists' confidence.

Prapas Intanaprasat, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) Hat Yai branch, said two tents had been set up to provide assistance to tourists who were affected by yesterday's blast.

Most of the tourists staying at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel remain in Hat Yai, but had moved to other hotels.

A press conference will be held on April 5 to confirm that the Songkran festivals will go ahead in Hat Yai as usual, he said.

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Police identify bomb suspects

Police have identified the insurgent gang they believe planted the car bombs in Yala and Hat Yai on Saturday which killed 14 people.


Sahudin Tohjehmah, whose group is reportedly active in Yala’s Ramandistrict, is suspected of being the mastermind behind the multiple bombings in Yala on Saturday.

Police believe further attacks are likely in Hat Yai, and have identified the four vehicles which they say could be used to plant the bombs.

The blast on Saturday at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel and shopping mall was caused by explosives left in a stolen vehicle, abandoned in the hotel's carpark, they confirmed Sunday.

They say the triple blasts in downtown Yala _ which occurred about the same time and took 11 of the 14 lives _ were also planted in stolen vehicles.

Insurgents stole most of the vehicles in previous attacks on security targets.

The vehicles police believe could be deployed in further attacks in Hat Yai were identified as a blue Isuzu pickup truck, a bronze Isuzu pickup, a white Toyota pickup and a black Honda sedan.

Police believe insurgents may have used them as getaway vehicles as they left the scene of the Saturday blasts.

Security footage shows suspected insurgents leaving the scene of the intended blasts in Yala in a Isuzu pickup truck and a Toyota pickup. In Hat Yai, they left in a black Honda sedan.

National police chief Priewpan Damapong said he believes the blasts were coordinated and mounted by the same people.

Eight of the 11 people killed in Yala died at the scene. Another three died later at hospital. About 100 people were injured, including 31 people who were were hospitalised, 10 in a serious condition. In Hat Yai, three people were killed in the hotel blaze, and more than 350 injured. Of these, 133 were still being treated in hospital yesterday.

The black Honda Civic sedan in which suspected insurgents left the scene of the hotel belonged to 39-year-old Thanasorn Kuasuk, an officer in Narathiwat's Si Sakhon district who was shot and killed in his office last October. The assailants fled in his car.

A police source said the sedan took gas and the insurgents probably used liquid explosive to set off the propane tank.

Police and forensic officials yesterday cleared three of five carpark floors under the hotel, making sure no other bombs were hidden there. The military is reviewing the hotel's security system.

More than 200 people showed up with car registration papers to claim their vehicles from the carpark.

In Yala, police found the Isuzu pickup seen leaving the scene belonged to resident Rohing Da-eso, who earlier reported it stolen.

Insurgents travelled in it on March 9 to attack a security checkpoint in tambon Kalor of Raman district.

The Toyota pickup also caught in security footage was stolen from a market in Muang district on March 20.

Fourth Army Commander Lt Gen Udomchai Thamsarot said on Sunday that authorities have identified a group responsible for the bombings and expect to make arrests soon.

A police source said the bombs were believed to be the work of a hardcore insurgent group led by Sahudin Tohjehmah, who is active in Raman.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the families and the victims of the bomb attacks, but said she did not plan on inspecting the area herself.

"Some staff would be assigned to provide security for me and I think that would hinder their efforts," she said.

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Intelligence reports warn that more bombings can be expected in the deep South and authorities might consider imposing the emergency decree in new areas in areas where the violence has worsened, Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said Monday.

"The army has beefed up security in Songkhla's Hat Yai district and other areas because we have received reports that there might be more attacks," Gen Yutthasak said,.

Authorities had earlier warned people about possible attacks following a series of bomb blasts in Yala and Hat Yai on Saturday which killed at least 14 people.

He said police and soldiers on Saturday conducted a counter-insurgency exercise at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai, but security measures had not been tightened.

"There has been more violence at the end of March and the beginning of April because the Krue Se and Tak Bai incidents happened around this time of year," the deputy prime minister said.

The Internal Security Operations Command, Region 4, had last week carried out an aggressive military offence, drawing strong resistance from the insurgents.

The proposal to extend the executive decree on public administration in emergency situations will be considered over the next two months because it could affect the people's state of mind, he said.

Gen Yutthasak said he would not yet scrutinise the performance of the Southern Border Provincial Administrative Centre director general, yet because he was only recently appointed and is working diligently.

"There is still a problem of unity of command in the area, and it needs to be addressed.

"From now on, the army has to help push and support the political sector and must have more strategies," the retired general said.

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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cut short a cabinet meeting this morning and then flew to the far South for on an inspection trip following Saturday's multiple bomb blasts in Songkhla's Hat Yai district and in Yala.

Speaking before leaving for Hat Yai on an air force plane from the Wing 6 terminal at Don Mueang, Ms Yingluck told reporters she would visit only one or two trouble spots because sahe did not want to put an increased burden on local authorities.

Her intention was to ensure the safety of the people and officials and give them morale support.

The prime minister declined to reveal what information she had been given about the bombings in Yala and Hat Yai and those responsible.

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The car bombings in Yala and Songkhla's Hat Yai district on Saturday were a coordinated attack, national police chief Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong said on Monday.

He was convinced of this after thoroughly inspecting the scenes of the bombings - the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai and in municipal Yala.

Judging from the way the bombs were assembled, the timing of the blasts and other circumstances, it was clear the series of explosions were linked.

Pol Gen Priewpan said investigators at the Police Operational Centre for the Southern Border Provinces knew which groups of insurgents were responsible for the attacks, but he did not give details.

Sources in the police explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit that scoured the basement carpark floors of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel said the bomb was concealed in a black Honda Civic car registered to Thanasorn Kuasuk, secretary of the Choeng Khiri tambon administration organisation in Si Sa Khon district of Narathiwat province.

Mr Thanasorn was attacked and robbed of his car and an M16 rifle on Oct 23 last year.

In Yala, the bombs exploded at two spots. The first was at the intersection of Chong Rak and Ruam Mit roads, where the militants planted a 15kg bomb concealed in a gas cylinder in a blue Isuzu pickup truck. The other site was in front of a 7-Eleven store where a similar bomb was planted in a Toyota Tiger pickup truck.

The bombs were detonated remotely by mobile phone. The other explosion was from an LPG-powered van parked near the intersection.

Three people were killed in the explosion and blaze in the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel's basement carpark. They were identified as Mrs Yupin Puthima, 38, Low Tsian Hock, a Malaysian man, and an unidentified Thai man.

More than 300 people were wounded, but only 133 were still being treated at different hospitals, a source said.

Ten people, five men and five women, were killed in the Yala bomb blasts and 112 wounded. Of the injured, 32 were still in hospital this morning.

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Stepped-up measures urged to restore image

The car bomb attacks in Hat Yai have hurt tourism and local business, leading more than half of 12,500 room bookings for Songkran to be cancelled.

Debris litters the ground outside a McDonald’s at Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel after Saturday’s bombing in Hat Yai. Experts are pleading for a more active government role in securing the region and salvaging its reputation as casualties mount from the southern insurgency.

Somchart Pimthanapoonporn, who heads the Songkhla Tourism Business Council and the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hoteliers Association, said it would take three to six months for the situation to return to normal.

"Operators not only in tourism but also other businesses are not confident in the security standard of the government," he said.

Kongkrit Hiranyakit, president of policy and planning for the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the council expected the bomb attacks to result in a loss of 200 million baht in revenue from tourism during Songkran.

Earlier, the council had forecast the water-splashing festival to generate more than 500 million baht.

"The government should seriously talk with the private sector there, especially about security in hotels, public areas, even department stores," Mr Kongkrit said. "Besides, it should organise a big event to recover the tourism image of Hat Yai after the situation starts improving."

Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said a short-term hit to tourism and confidence was unavoidable given the high number of casualties in the bombing.

"Car bombs didn't happen for many years in Thailand, and this time as many as 11 people were killed while hundreds were injured," Mr Tanit said. "The incident in Hat Yai occurred in the main shopping area, thus tourism and confidence will certainly see immediate effects.

"What worries me is that tourism in other southern provinces such as Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi will also be hurt."

He urged beefed-up security in public places such as hotels and shopping malls and called on the government to quickly explain the situation to the outside world.

With international tourists, especially Malaysians, about to come to Thailand, the state cannot just ignore the case and let foreign media tell the story, said Dr Tanit.

He advised the government to revamp its measures for tackling the southern insurgency, including learning what other countries such as Israel have done in dealing with separatist attacks.

Nearly all companies and investors do not want to operate in the Deep South any more, Dr Tanit said.

Surachai Jitpukdeebodintra, president of the Thai Chamber of Commerce of Songkhla, said the chamber would call a meeting tomorrow of parties from both the public and private sectors to brainstorm safety and security measures for restoring tourist confidence and to assemble relief packages for victims.

"Bombings deliver a direct hit to tourism, one of the key revenue streams of Songkhla on top of the agricultural and industrial sectors," he said. "But more important is how long the impact will be and the measures the government and private sector must enact to rehabilitate the city."

According to Mr Surachai, life and general insurance packages will possibly be offered to quickly restore tourist trust.

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B500,000 reward for arrest of two suspects

A 500,000 baht bounty has been offered for the arrest of two suspects believed to be responsible for Saturday's bomb attack at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai in Songkhla province.

Reclaim them, if you want them
Security officials re-examine the car park of Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai district of Songkhla after Saturday’s bombing which killed three people and injured more than 350. Authorities on Tuesday asked the owners of the vehicles parked at the bomb site to contact them to reclaim them.

Songkhla governor Grisada Boonrach said yesterday the reward would be given to any person who could provide information that led to their arrest.

Officials have identified two people captured on a closed-circuit camera not far from the scene of the attack.

The powerful blast, believed to be from a bomb planted in a car left in the hotel's car park, killed three people and injured more than 350 others.

Thawee Sodsong, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), said the insurgent group responsible for the attack was believed to have been behind the Hat Yai airport bombing in 2005.

A CCTV photo of the two men believed responsible for Saturday's murderous bomb.

A source at Provincial Police Region 9 said an order has been made to step up security at important places in Hat Yai including the airport, train stations, bus terminals and shopping centres.

Police have been checking video footage from security cameras along Saneha Nusorn and Prachthipat roads.

One eyewitness who saw the suspects was a security guard on duty at the security checkpoint at the entrance and exit to the hotel, said the source.

The source said the bombers, who were suspected of holding dual nationality, had visited the hotel and studied the area before carrying out the attack. They were believed to have already fled to another country.

It was strongly believed the bombs were produced in Hat Yai, not transported from the deep South or any of the four districts of Songkhla that share a border with Malaysia, the source said.

The bombers would have to go through numerous security checkpoints and risk facing an accidental explosion as a result of the summer heat if they had chosen to transport the bombs, said the source.

Pol Gen Veerapong Chiewpreecha, deputy national police chief, said the bombers were believed to be highly skilled. They had parked the car with the bomb on the third floor of the hotel's five-storey underground car park _ apparently aimed at maximising the blast's impact and to cause as much damage as possible.

The bomb was made from two 15kg cooking gas cylinders stuffed with explosives and ammonium nitrate, he said.

Police have also inspected car parks, used-car dealers' tents, rented houses and unidentified educational institutions to gather information.

Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat yesterday refused to rule out the possibility of informal talks with insurgents.

He insisted this did not mean he supported formal negotiations, nor that the government had such a policy.

He was responding to a question about whether the government would look into the possibility that security officers must have had talks with certain insurgent groups.

Earlier, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha suggested these talks might have upset other groups and prompted them to carry out an attack to send a message that they also existed.

Local security officials should know best what should be done, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said security in Hat Yai would be strengthened over Songkran to boost public confidence.

Governor Grisada said the attack had resulted in many hotel reservations in Hat Yai being cancelled.

The Democrat Party yesterday called on the government to open a general debate on the southern violence during the extended parliamentary session.

"If the government doesn't agree, I would ask why reconciliation issues can be discussed," Thaworn Senneam, Democrat MP for Songkhla, said.

The cabinet on Monday endorsed a royal decree to extend parliament's session for an indefinite period to clear up pending legislation. Controversial reconciliation issues are expected to be discussed.

Mr Thaworn, a former deputy interior minister in charge of solving the southern unrest, said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should take charge of the SBPAC, as stated in the SBPAC law. He said Ms Yingluck should call a meeting of SBPAC officials once or twice a month to create unity among agencies.

Here are scenes by Bangkok Post photographers from the parking garage of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, where a car bomb exploded last Saturday, causing the deaths of four people and injuries to more than 350.

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20 others thought to be behind attacks in South

Police have arrested seven suspects believed to be involved in the spate of deadly bomb attacks in Hat Yai, Songkhla, Pattani and Yala on Saturday.

In the Hat Yai bomb incident, Narathiwat police said three of the suspects surrendered after a combined military-police team surrounded a house at a village in Rueso district yesterday.

A task force had been sent to the house following a tip-off that bomb suspects might be using it as their hideout.

The three _ Dulloh Haseng Yamaska, 50, Abdul Asis Hatama, 41, and Adnan Duramae, 31 _ emerged from the house after 30 minutes of negotiations with the officials.

Police said they found a pickup truck belonging to the head nurse of a local hospital in Raman district, Yala, during a search of the property. The nurse was killed in an Oct 19, 2011 attack. The truck was allegedly stolen by her assailants.

Police said the licence plate of the pickup truck had been found on a stolen Honda which was used to carry one of the bombs at the Hat Yai hotel.

The arrest of the two other suspects in the Hat Yai bomb attack was revealed at a separate press conference in Bangkok by national police chief Priewpan Damapong earlier yesterday.

Pol Gen Priewpan declined to reveal their identities but said the two were being interrogated by investigators.

"Preliminary findings from the investigation show there are 20 others who were involved in the attack," he said.

Pol Gen Priewpan's disclosure came as military and police officers stepped up their hunt for suspected bomb plotter Jehma Wani and a suspected bomb maker identified only as Mr Baeyu.

Both are suspected of being behind Saturday's car park bombing.

Police investigators at Provincial Region 9 said Mr Jehma was a former Islamic teacher and soldier and is a hardcore insurgent. They said Mr Baeyu is an expert bomb maker who is reclusive and security authorities do not have in-depth information about him. However, they believe both were trained to make bombs in a foreign country and are transferring their knowledge to insurgents in southern border provinces.

The car park bomb killed three people, injured hundreds of others and caused heavy damage to the hotel.

The car that supposedly carried 50-60 kilogrammes of radio-detonated explosives was deliberately parked on the third basement parking floor which is the middle floor of five underground floors of the hotel. It is understood the blast was intended to create maximum impact to vehicles parked at other parking floors to trigger chain explosions.

Pol Lt Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9, said yesterday the provincial police office was offering a 1 million baht bounty for the arrest of the two suspects in addition to the 500,000-baht bounty that Songkhla governor Grisada Boonrach had already set for them.

Meanwhile, security authorities were closing in on some suspects thought to be responsible for the bombings in Pattani and Yala provinces on Saturday.

Pol Maj Gen Pichet Pitisetpan, chief of Pattani police, yesterday brought to the press a male bombing suspect identified as Samlee Huluduereh, 34.

The man, a Yala local, was arrested at his wife's house in tambon Muang Tia of Mae Lan district, Pattani. Security authorities confiscated from him a 100-metre length of cable, a set of pliers, nails and a mobile phone.

The suspect was identified from recordings of six surveillance cameras, witnesses' accounts and a record of his cell phone use. He was suspected to be the person who detonated a bomb-laden motorcycle in front of a food shop in tambon Mae Lan, Pattani, on Saturday. The explosion injured a senior police officer and damaged properties.

Mr Samlee denied he was involved in the bombing. He said he had been with his wife on Saturday.

Investigators questioned a 22-year-old suspect identified as Anuwat Tohjeh about the bombings in Yala province on Saturday. The man is a local of tambon Yupo in Muang Yala district and had allegedly driven a vehicle following a bomb-laden pickup truck before the first car bomb went off in the district.

Police identified the man from recordings of surveillance cameras. He denied any involvement in the blast.

On Tuesday, soldiers, police and local administrators searched Ban Pongruerai village in tambon Bannang Sareng of Muang Yala district and found what were believed to be components of improvised explosive devices including chopped steel rods, electronic circuits, 17 used gas cylinders, and wires in some houses.

Senior police adviser Pol Gen Worapong Chewpreecha said police were about to seek warrants for the arrest of some suspects for the bombings in Yala.

The National Human Rights Commission yesterday expressed condolences to people affected by the bombings in Yala, Pattani and Songkhla provinces last Saturday.

Noppong Theeraworn, chair of the Yala Chamber of Commerce, said the bombings on Ruammit Road in Muang Yala district affected the economy of the province and the chamber would organise events to stimulate it in a month. Initial economic damages are estimated at 80 million baht there.

Col Pramote Prom-in, deputy spokesman of the southern command of the Internal Security Operations Command, said yesterday army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered soldiers to improve the database of suspects and suspicious vehicles in the far South and to strictly search suspects and suspicious vehicles in communities, school markets and other special safety zones.

The deputy spokesman said special law enforcement was necessary in some areas for the sake of public safety.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday her government was working harder to ensure public safety and restore confidence following the southern bombings.

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One detainee 'may be Hat Yai hotel bomber'

Two people suspected of involvement in the Hat Yai and Yala bombings last Saturday have been arrested, Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat said yesterday.

ACM Sukumpol had been informed by authorities that the secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) Thawee Sodsong said two bomb suspects had now been arrested. However, the defence minister refused to elaborate.

The defence minister yesterday chaired a meeting of security agencies at the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 in Pattani's Yarang district during his visit to the three southern border provinces.

It has yet to be confirmed if the two detainees are those whom Songkhla police have identified as suspects in carrying out the bomb attack at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Songkhla's Hat Yai.

A police source said one of the two detained suspects resembles one of the two men suspected of planting the bomb at the hotel.

Police indentified the two suspects as Seri Waemamu and Ruslan Baima. Warrants have been issued for their arrest.

The suspects, both about 170cm tall, were filmed by the hotel's CCTV cameras walking upstairs from one of the building's five underground parking floors, Level B4, close to the spot where the explosion took place, and then exiting through the carpark's entrance ramp.

The men wore jeans, black jackets and black caps concealed their faces.

The police source said Seri is a unit commander of a separatist group in charge of areas covering Thepha and Saba Yoi districts of Songkhla, and Ruslan is a member of a group of rebels based in Songkhla led by Jema Wani and Pado Kongkhwai.

Police believe the two suspects have fled across the border and are hiding in a safehouse, the source said.

On Wednesday, security officers in Narathiwat arrested three men suspected of being linked to the Yala-Hat Yai bombings last Saturday, which killed a total of 14 people and injured hundreds more.

The three men are Dullohaseng Yamaska, 50, Abdul Asis Hatama, 41, and Adnan Dueramae, 31.

Police said Mr Dullohaseng had fled nine arrest warrants involving violent attacks and that he is one of operational leaders of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) militant group.

ACM Sukumpol said security personnel in the three southern border provinces and Songkhla will be provided with modern equipment and technology in order to better detect suspicious objects and to help them deter insurgents.

He said additional CCTV cameras would be installed to boost security in violence-prone areas in the lower South and other security measures would also be stepped up to curb such incidents.

ACM Sukumpol dismissed accusations by the Democrat Party that ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra had held secret talks with southern rebel separatists, saying this was impossible.

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Cameras burnt, safety zone opened in Yala

At least 18 closed circuit security cameras were set on fire and destroyed by militants in Raman district of Yala province early Monday morning, police said.

Pol Lt-Col Somprat Kankanont, chief of the Kotabaru police station, led bomb disposal and forensic police to inspect many spots along the Yala - Kotabaru road after receiving reports of the attacks.

In tambon Kotabaru, police found eight surveillance cameras had been burnt at six spots. They had been wrapped in motorcycle tyre tubes soaked with petrol and then set alight.

Eight security cameras were similary set on fire at four spots in tambon Noen Ngam. Two others were also burnt in tambon Ba Ngoy.

Police were still checking whether other surveillance cameras had also been destroyed.

Pol Lt-Col Somprat said Yala police chief Pol Maj-Gen Peera Boonliang had ordered police to examine the footage from the cameras before they were destroyed to see if there were recordings of the attackers.

Witnesses told police the cameras were set on fire by a group of youths travelling on motorcycles between 2am and 3am.

Police believed that the arson was in retaliation for the arrest of Dullahaseng Yamasaka, alias Imam Haseng Jakua, a suspected militant leader.

Meanwhile, a safety zone has been opened on Ruam Mit Road in the Yala municipality in the aftermath of the March 31 car bombings that killed 12 people, wounded more than 100 others, and caused extensive damage to property.

The opening ceremony was held on Monday morning, chaired by Yala governor Dejrat Simsiri and attended by more than 500 people including soldiers of Task Force 11, police and defence volunteers.

Traffic on Ruam Mit Road, the scene of the March 31 car bombings, has been re-arranged to accommodate the establishment of checkpoints to be manned around the clock by units of Yala Task Force 11, police and defence volunteers.

Yala Task Force 11 has also set up mobile units for emergency operations, with support from police and volunteers under a joint security command led by Pol Col Narin Busaman, the Muang Yala police chief.